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Frostbike
Frostbike

Frostbike

The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling
ISBN: 9781771600484
Tom Babin
$20.00
  • Paperback / softback Trade paperback (US)

The bicycle is fast becoming a ubiquitous form of transportation in cities all over the world, making our urban spaces more efficient, more livable and healthier. But many of those bicycles disappear into basements and garages when the warm months end, parked there by owners fearful of the cold, snow and ice that winter brings. But does it have to be that way?

Canadian writer and journalist Tom Babin started questioning this dogma after being stuck in winter commuter traffic one dreary and cold December morning and dreaming about the happiness that bicycle commuting had brought him all summer long. So he did something about it. He pulled on some thermal underwear, dragged his bike down from the rafters of his garage and set out on a mission to answer a simple but beguiling question: is it possible to happily ride a bike in winter? That question took him places he never expected. Over years of trial and error, research and more than his share of snow and ice, he discovered an unknown history of biking for snow and ice, and a new generation designed to make riding in winter safe and fun. He unearthed the world’s most bike-friendly winter city and some new approaches to winter cycling from places all over the world. He also looked inward, to discover how the modern world shapes our attitudes toward winter. And perhaps most importantly, he discovered the unique kind of bliss that can only come by pedalling through softly falling snow on a quiet winter night.

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
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Brandon
I'm glad I read this book. Very thorough (2024)

I didn't know exactly what this book was going to be about when I bought it, but I appreciate the direction it took. Though the content matches the title, it's done from a perspective of how people deal with winter overall.I'm a novice cyclist who only plans on riding for work, errands, and meeting friends. This book and Tom's YouTube channel has made me appreciate the variety of ways one can get around on a bike. And now I see how much of a disservice cities (esp. North American cities) have done to us all when it comes to prioritizing car infrastructure over bike infrastructure.This book was enjoyable to read and it was well-grounded in research.

K
Kindle Customer
Thoroughly enjoyed

It wasn't what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. He has an impressive ability to capture the magic of cycling and winter. I personally find it hard to explain why I enjoy both so much, and find it bizarre that so many people consider biking to work or playing outside during winter to be crazy

C
Chris Huston
I really liked this book. Very interesting data. As a New England Bike rider.

One thing though. I work outside for a large portion of the day, year round. The biggest obstacle is the WIND. It can be 25 F or even 39F.But if the wind picks up. Evaporative cooling kicks in and Frost Bite[Bike] is a real concern on exposed extremities Nose, ears and fingers.Also I live on the coast line and the Ocean winds just about knock you over past October.That said, I really really l enjoyed the book at it was a fascinating look at the infrastructures set up around the globe for the bike.Thank you for taking the time to research it and put it down. Well written. Looking forward to read others by the Author.

J
Josh Lemer
A wonderful deep dive into the Canadian cultural relationship to Cycling and Winter

This book goes into the history up to the present of Winter cycling, and questions mainstream Canadian cultural attitudes towards our climate, the outdoors, our cities, and more. Tom Babin really instills a great sense of fun and makes me impatiently wait for Winter to start so I can get out there and ride on my bike. A great read for anyone interested in urbanism and car dependency. Great work!

D
David Garcia
Even better than expected

I will admit that I bought this mainly because I wanted to throw Tom a bone because I love his YouTube channel Shifter.However, now that I'm halfway through his book, I can say that it is absolutely worth it for anybody thinking of riding a bike in snowy/icy conditions. It is very well structured, edited and proofread. It presents a wealth of information in a way that is easy to follow along and makes it hard to put it down. Kudos!

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Book Details

304

September 19, 2014

Width: 5 in
Height: 7 in

This book is for cyclists, commuters looking for a change, and urban planning types, certainly, but also for any reader who enjoys a refreshing perspective.—Evan Osenton, Alberta Views

Changing attitudes about winter is difficult, as Babin acknowledges, but it’s what he sees as the biggest struggle in getting more people to see winter biking as a viable way of commuting. And so he softens, somewhat, on his views around the toughness required for successful winter cycling and starts to embrace the season as an essential part of the Canadian experience, not an enemy to be overcome. It’s this transition in attitude that makes Frostbike’s approach feel fresh and relevant. It’s not about the bike, it’s not about the lanes, it’s not about being tougher than everyone else; winter biking starts from changing our relationship with the season itself.—Jeff Carson, Dandyhorse Magazine

Whether you’re a fair-weather cyclist looking to expand your bike knowledge during the off-season or an avid winter cyclist looking for inspiration, this book has a lot of knowledge to offer.—Ali Byers, AMS Bike Co-op